I wrote in this entry that I'd begun working the 9–12 months version when it seemed impossible that the exceptional baby in question–Abigail, my niece–could ever be so large as to fill it out. Each flat piece was a square acre of stockinette; Abigail could have fit into a shoebox. Not that we tried it, but she could have.

But she did grow. She grew at such an alarming rate that I accused my sister of feeding her on a diet of breast milk and

small cakes inscribed EAT ME.

I finished the kimono in what I figured was the nick of time, so that Abby could cuddle up in it for a month or two before it would be relegated to the chest of outgrown knits. It fit her like a mid-length spa robe (simple, but chic) and became a go-to woolen garment for chilly weather.

A year later, when the frost returned to the pumpkins, it still fit. But it had become a short jacket.

A year after that (two days ago, in fact), a freak spell of mild weather in southern Maine caused my sister to reach for it again. It is now a little shirt with three-quarter sleeves.

For those of you who knit, crochet, sew or otherwise fashion handmade clothing for children, I need not explain to you why this series of photographs fills me with matchless gratification.

For those who do not, let me walk you through it:

I made it for her to wear, and she wore it.

Her mother made sure I got to see her wearing it.

There's honorable evidence of heavy use (note the pilling on the sleeves) but also of proper care (and it isn't machine-washable).

You make a baby garment hoping it'll fit for an entire season. Three seasons? A small miracle. And sometimes I think the small ones are the best.

Thank you for sharing that great story! As a proud auntie of a niece and nephew, I love seeing them in the stuff I knit them. And one of my happiest moments? Unpacking my nephew's room during his family's move and finding a box full of sweaters I knit, loved nearly to death. The ones with "tummy wear" from an active baby got me the most :)

I haven't even made any sweater-type objects for my own kids, for fear that my precious stitches would never see real use. But apparently handknits for kids can actually be used, and used well. I'm so happy for that sweater!

Such a cute sweater -- and such a sweet story! You've renewed my interest in knitting baby items; as of late, I've been frustrated because I never get to SEE the babies wearing my sweaters or at least sitting on my afghans.

Thanks for your story! I've had similar experiences lately--not over that lovely length of time (2 years!) but just seeing some friends of mine dress their newborn son in the jacket/hat/booties set that I made him...twice now...has made me happier than I could say.

I had a similar experience recently with a baby hat that's getting worn and loved to death. (see 2nd pic and links on this blog post:http://livnletlrn.blogspot.com/2009/12/tis-season.html )

Makes a knitter's heart go pitter pat, and not just from love for the wearer of the handknits. Congrats on hitting a home run with the kimono. Looks like Abby's personal knitter will need to replenish her stash of handknits this fall -- girl's growing fast! :-)

Totally warms the cockles of a knitter's heart! I can't wait to someday knit for my own grandchild, whose mother is also a dedicated knitter, and will absolutely cherish each item. What an angel she is--enjoy every moment!

Oh, and that reminds me how the little dresses I smocked for that 32 yo knitter are waiting to be passed on to little girl #5, after working their way through the cousins.

So heartwarming to see your sweet sweater worn, loved, and cared for. You have a good sister and a precious niece.I knit a baby blanket for my great-nephew in October and I still haven't heard if it was received (despite an email and a light-hearted query on our Christmas card). Next baby, all-in-ones from Penney's.

How perfectly gratifying! I love to knit for my sister and my nieces (her daughters) for the same reason. She appreciates all things handmade more than anyone I know, and she's all about USING those things as intended. By the way, I'm a woman and a mom, and I have made stuff out of yarn that must be handwashed for my nieces. Not everything, but some things.

She was probably wearing it when I heard her chattering away in the background the other day, whilst I was on the phone with her father regarding your dog-niece's, ahem, slight dietary indiscretion. I expect she'll end up leaning a bit more toward her dad in the height department.

that's so wonderful! I knit a sweater for my choir director's new baby almost two years ago and they didn't put it on her for a while because it was too big. I never got a photo, maybe saw her in it once. I asked about it once and my 'friend' said, "oh, the one you quilted?' (I don't quilt.) So, he wasn't even sure what it was I'd given them.

That is so sweet and that sweater is gorgeous! The colors looks so wonderful on her and it's nice to have something NOT pink. ;) Even if they adore pink, I know my 2 do, it's nice to see them in something else.That sweater will end up in the heirloom box for sure and will cause many smiles when it's seen again.

Abigail is a doll!! The girl can really work a hand-knit - let's face it. Not every child wears wool that well.

Speaking as an aunt who last year knit a complicated fair-isle sweater/hat combo for my niece and have seen her in it ONCE ... let's say I'm happy for you and incredibly jealous too!

Meanwhile - today Amazon dropped off a package on my porch that included "It Itches" and it is GENIUS. I laughed a good deep belly laugh over and over until I had to go to work. Bravo and thanks for the hilarious book.

AWww - that's the best knitting story ever! There's nothing more rewarding than a handknit item that is loved and documented. BTW - I agree. I think this young girl is being fed Miracle Grow! The pictures are so adorable - but it really looks like she's growing before our eyes in your post. Too cute!

No doubt the superior yarn and construction details had much to do with this garment's longevity. Well done.As I was perusing the new Knitters what to my wondering eyes did appear but a knitting hunk in a leather jacket. Recognized you immediately. Not only are you a fab photographer but a kick ass model.

An aunt knit Panda a sweater that we called the "Magic Growing" sweater...she wore it for many years and many photos that I too shared with my aunt...and then I learned to knit and my aunt stopped knitting sweaters for my girls. :-) :-(

Too cute - I made the same little kimono for my nephew - thinking it was sooo large, by the time he was a year old, he filled it out so you could see the rolls on his rolls. I love babies in handknits.

Lovely sweater, niece and phones I had a similar wonderful experience. I knit the Yarn Harlot's watermelon hat, but with Socks that Rock leftovers. I threw in some bobbles. The hat got worn for almost three years on two kids and was considered by the mom to be the perfect hat - fit many size heads and never popped off. The mom recently asked me to knit a replacement or two because despite her best efforts the hat had gotten lost and none of the store-bought ones matched the fit of the one I knit. I am thrilled to comply. I have also had the no sign of a thank you note.

This is why I love Debbie Bliss' designs. Many morph beautifully from one type of garment to another as the child grows. My first Fair Isle sweater attempt was from "Country Knits" and I made it for my then 3 yo daughter. I think she wore it until she was at least 6. After all that work it was particularly satisfying to pull it out year after year! My niece is still wearing a fairly intricately cabled and bobbled Debbie Bliss sweater coat that is now just a sweater after a couple of years.

I've been cramming my two and a half year old into the same old top down Raglan for two seasons now. A few weeks ago I remarked on how it was getting a little short in the arms and I should knit him a new one. He followed me around for two hours chanting "Knit me a sweater Mama."

Isn't it great to indoctrinate the extremely small into the cult of hand-knits. Congrats.

Your niece is gorgeous. I am fortunate enough to have 3 kids to knit for. One outgrows everything in a hurry, but the other two seem to have a pheromone that causes knitwear expansion, which delights me. My granddaughter has a BSJ that I knit out of chunky yarn and added rolled cuffs and collar. She got it when she was 3 and she will soon be 5 and still wears it regularly. Warms the heart, it does.

I made a very similar Debbie Bliss kimono sweater for my oldest daughter. She got much use out of it and now its been passed onto the next one. The design is great for longevity. And I love seeing kids wearing those precious knits. If you are going to spend the time knitting it, they should wear them and wear them and wear them!

Great timing! I was considering a similar kimono to have for a co-worker's March baby of as yet unknown gender. I'm pleased that this type of garment can fit for a long time--and hope it will see as much use as Abigail's.

As a born Mainer, the recent pic was astounding. I'm sure is was colder down south in CT.

I'm not sure if "gratifying" is a strong enough word to describe THAT feeling. It only happens once in a while that some thing you make is so well loved. It's a real "warm fuzzy". She's a very lucky little girl! I have no girls (or nieces) of my own but at least my husband and my oldest son love the stuff I make for them. Hats for the former and slippers (a la Phentex) for the latter - who knew what I would find in an old pattern book :-)!!

SO true. I knit my daughter a dress out of fingering weight yarn for her to wear to my BFF's wedding. This was when she was 2. It hit her ankles. She is now 6 and can still wear it, though it ends just at her knees. And she does wear it, and has worn it, a LOT. Hugely gratifying. I'm thinking of knitting her another.

My little BubbaLou is still wearing a simple raglan sweater her Nan knit for her. Nan used leftover yarn from a pullover she did for herself. We're going on year #4. Started a little big, now it's a cropped, 3/4 sleeve layering piece. I think it's going to wear out before I get to put it away for safe keeping!

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